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National Mourning

Can any one please explain to me why it is we have four major incidents in this country and we all have is a minutes or two's silence to remember the poor souls who have lost there lives or been affected by it. Yet in other countries they have at least a day of national mourning and Portugal have just declared three days after this tragic firein their country.

Has our government got it so wrong again!
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Comments

  • IdleHans
    IdleHans Posts: 10,966
    Don't think we've ever done them, have we?
    Not our style.

    But what does a day of national mourning entail?
  • sammy391
    sammy391 Posts: 3,782
    Not very 'british' is it ... Keep Calm & Carry On has always been the ethos
  • T_C_E
    T_C_E Posts: 16,419
    Possibly the same reason the finger pointing and political point scoring started while there are still people unaccounted for or that may never be found in this horrible disaster. Who ever is responsible (assuming someone is), lets lay those that perished to rest and let their loved ones grieve and give those people some respect before we start the politics. RIP
  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,737
    What does a whole day of national mourning consist of ? Sounds awful

  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,222

    Can any one please explain to me why it is we have four major incidents in this country and we all have is a minutes or two's silence to remember the poor souls who have lost there lives or been affected by it. Yet in other countries they have at least a day of national mourning and Portugal have just declared three days after this tragic firein their country.

    Has our government got it so wrong again!

    I think if the government had got it wrong then people would be quick to say that.

    I haven't heard anyone calling for national days of mourning for these events and others have said I'm not sure what that would mean in the UK.

    Other countries have different cultures and traditions and if a three days of mourning is deemed appropriate for Portugal then I think that is fine.

    Events her are postponed, such as the mansion house speech, when deemed inappropriate.
  • cafcfan
    cafcfan Posts: 11,198
    Aren't they reserved for the deaths of renowned individual(s)?

    As far as I can tell, the last we had was for Winston Churchill in 1965. It lasted three days. No doubt they have them for ex-monarchs as well.

    Frankly, I'd rather not. Where do you stop? How do you resolve conflicts about whether such and such was "worthy"? Better to not start that sort of debate in the first place IMO.
  • cabbles
    cabbles Posts: 15,255
    Am I correct in thinking one would be called for the death of the reigning monarch
  • valleyrobin
    valleyrobin Posts: 203
    Yes Cabbles your quite correct one would be called if the Queen died. The last one we had was on the death of Princess Diana
  • JiMMy 85
    JiMMy 85 Posts: 10,193
    What does such a day achieve?
  • cafc_harry
    cafc_harry Posts: 3,360
    Just sounds like a bit of a formality to me. No doubt we'd have one for the queens death but other than that what's the point.
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  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,039
    I think a sincerely observed minute is right. I don't know what more one could do to show respect.
  • clb74
    clb74 Posts: 10,824

    Can any one please explain to me why it is we have four major incidents in this country and we all have is a minutes or two's silence to remember the poor souls who have lost there lives or been affected by it. Yet in other countries they have at least a day of national mourning and Portugal have just declared three days after this tragic firein their country.

    Has our government got it so wrong again!

    All to do with money
  • IdleHans
    IdleHans Posts: 10,966
    I thought the whole Diana thing was mawkish, unpleasant and ridiculously sentimental. It was also tarnished by persistent criticism of the royal family and became a sniping contest. And that didn't really have any kind of political dimension.
    A day of mourning now would be riven by political point scoring, and the rabble rousers would use it as an opportunity to smash up retail units once again. Best left well alone.
  • ForeverAddickted
    ForeverAddickted Posts: 94,318
    I'm in constant mourning on a Saturday and occasional Tuesday from August to April!!
  • Stig
    Stig Posts: 29,024
    We don't need a day of mourning. Beds changes his picture profile and that's about enough for me.
  • rina
    rina Posts: 2,334
    everyone can mourn in their own way, or not at all. we don't need to be told what to do

    anyone who needs to be instructed to mourn by the state probably isn't that bothered anyway and is just going to spend the extra day off down the pub- not necessarily a bad thing but I'm not sure the government should be criticised for not encouraging it
  • DRAddick
    DRAddick Posts: 3,588
    I've never really been into the idea of National Mourning days. But then I'm also pissed off by the relatively recent phenominum that everyone who dies now has to have some sort of street memorial with flowers and flags. Usually with some crap like "only the good die young" written. It's just a faux effort of public grief that it seems people now feel they need to do, especially if they can post a pic on social media showing what great mourners they are. Maybe I'm just an extreme pessimist when it comes to death issues and mourning.
  • North Lower Neil
    North Lower Neil Posts: 22,952
    JiMMy 85 said:

    What does such a day achieve?

    I would plan to achieve nothing. In the pub.
  • eaststandmike
    eaststandmike Posts: 14,956
    JiMMy 85 said:

    What does such a day achieve?

    A spot of fishing would not go amiss?
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 7,783
    Out here in the UAE, they do days of mourning for high profile deaths.
    2015 was a big year for it - There was a 3 day mourning period out of respect for the Saudi King in the January, then in September there were another 3 days for Emirati soldiers killed in action in Yemen. This was followed two weeks later by another 3 (or maybe 5? I can't remember) days because Sheikh Mohammed's (ruler of Dubai) son, Sheikh Rashid died.
    As expats, these mourning days don't affect your life much, except that all the radio stations are only allowed to play dreary, but respectful Arabic music. I'm not sure whether Emirati folk do anything particularly different during these periods, but I didn't see anything!
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  • North Lower Neil
    North Lower Neil Posts: 22,952
    Apparently when the Queen dies, the BBC won't show any comedy for a week?
  • WSS
    WSS Posts: 25,070

    Apparently when the Queen dies, the BBC won't show any comedy for a week?

    Stick to their normal schedule then?
  • cabbles
    cabbles Posts: 15,255
    WSS said:

    Apparently when the Queen dies, the BBC won't show any comedy for a week?

    Stick to their normal schedule then?
    I've heard it's Miranda repeats 24/7
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,334
    The Queen's death will trigger an official 12-day period of national mourning.

    Union Jacks will be flown at half mast throughout the country and books of condolence will be opened at embassies across the world.

    The London Stock Exchange will be closed for at least the day of the Queen's funeral and potentially for several days.

    If the Queen dies during the night, her death will not be announced until 8am, after which her portrait will be displayed on BBC tv screens accompanied by the national anthem.

    The BBC will also suspend all comedy programming during the 12-day period of national mourning.
  • cafc_harry
    cafc_harry Posts: 3,360
    Chizz said:

    The Queen's death will trigger an official 12-day period of national mourning.

    Union Jacks will be flown at half mast throughout the country and books of condolence will be opened at embassies across the world.

    The London Stock Exchange will be closed for at least the day of the Queen's funeral and potentially for several days.

    If the Queen dies during the night, her death will not be announced until 8am, after which her portrait will be displayed on BBC tv screens accompanied by the national anthem.

    The BBC will also suspend all comedy programming during the 12-day period of national mourning.

    Sounds like a good idea 15 years ago but nowadays 10 seconds after her last breath it'll be all over Twitter.
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,628
    clb74 said:

    Can any one please explain to me why it is we have four major incidents in this country and we all have is a minutes or two's silence to remember the poor souls who have lost there lives or been affected by it. Yet in other countries they have at least a day of national mourning and Portugal have just declared three days after this tragic firein their country.

    Has our government got it so wrong again!

    All to do with money
    What a load of old tosh. Nothing to do with money & you know it. We are British & we do things the proper way. We don't go round throwing ourselves onto funeral pyres or banging our heads with rocks (ala Munity on the Bounty).

    What do you do during 3 days of mourning for pete's sake. Close down all the factories, shops & offices & weep at home. Jeez - what a load of pathetic nonsense.

  • Bangkokaddick
    Bangkokaddick Posts: 4,295
    We're still in a period of mourning in Thailand following the King's death last October. Only another four months to go.
  • cabbles
    cabbles Posts: 15,255

    Chizz said:

    The Queen's death will trigger an official 12-day period of national mourning.

    Union Jacks will be flown at half mast throughout the country and books of condolence will be opened at embassies across the world.

    The London Stock Exchange will be closed for at least the day of the Queen's funeral and potentially for several days.

    If the Queen dies during the night, her death will not be announced until 8am, after which her portrait will be displayed on BBC tv screens accompanied by the national anthem.

    The BBC will also suspend all comedy programming during the 12-day period of national mourning.

    Sounds like a good idea 15 years ago but nowadays 10 seconds after her last breath it'll be all over Twitter.
    So Miranda's okay then
  • MrOneLung
    MrOneLung Posts: 26,853
    Chizz said:

    The Queen's death will trigger an official 12-day period of national mourning.

    Union Jacks will be flown at half mast throughout the country and books of condolence will be opened at embassies across the world.

    The London Stock Exchange will be closed for at least the day of the Queen's funeral and potentially for several days.

    If the Queen dies during the night, her death will not be announced until 8am, after which her portrait will be displayed on BBC tv screens accompanied by the national anthem.

    The BBC will also suspend all comedy programming during the 12-day period of national mourning.

    ITV will not carry any adverts for 3 days after her death.
  • Fiiish
    Fiiish Posts: 7,998
    Chizz said:

    The Queen's death will trigger an official 12-day period of national mourning.

    Union Jacks will be flown at half mast throughout the country and books of condolence will be opened at embassies across the world.

    The London Stock Exchange will be closed for at least the day of the Queen's funeral and potentially for several days.

    If the Queen dies during the night, her death will not be announced until 8am, after which her portrait will be displayed on BBC tv screens accompanied by the national anthem.

    The BBC will also suspend all comedy programming during the 12-day period of national mourning.

    Miranda must be relieved she can still be broadcast during the mourning period then.